Dog rescue is a sad and dark place but as a rescuer regardless of all the horrible things you see... the abuse, the neglect, the death, the ones you can't help, the mean and cruel people... you deal with it for the dogs. You put on a happy face and you deal. This blog is to help one dog rescuer deal and hopefully show other rescuers they are not alone, even though it feels like that most of the time.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

People suck!

Sorry I am at my wits end. I take in a dog that has a broken leg b/c the owner can't afford to help the dog but wants it to get help and all I do is get screamed at, criticized and lectured. GEE THANK YOU!

Just so everyone knows I am a horrible person! Apparently taking a dog in and doing the best I can for it isn't good enough.

I need to raise $2,500 so the dog can have surgery on Monday. If I don't raise money then I can't get the dog his surgery because I don't have a way to pay for the surgery. If the dog can't have surgery the dog will suffer in pain and that isn't nice. So, if the dog can't have surgery I will have to put the dog to sleep. WHICH LET ME ADD IN 3 vets have told me I should, YES I SHOULD do. I shouldn't bother with the surgery, just put the dog down "your being stupid Amy and you will regret this decision" I was told.

I did NOTHING yesterday but try to find a way to help this dog. NOTHING! I took the day off from work, thinking it would be nice to get stuff done around the farm. Instead I drove from vet appointment to vet office and talking to people on the phone trying to figure out what is the right thing to do. And all I get is yelled.

I didn't eat yesterday b/c I didn't have time. I was too busy worrying about this dog, who I have met one time!

Then today I have a rescue person call me up and tare me a new a-hole for trying to help. She said I shouldn't have taken the dog in if I didn't have the money to pay for the dogs surgery. My rebuttal to that was, that the women told me the emergency vet said $2K to fix the dog.. translation to me is my vet could probably do it for 1/2 of that.

She told me I PROMISED the women that I wouldn't put the dog to sleep. I never promised anything I know better. I told the women I would do what I can for the dog. I have kept the owner up to date on what is going on the entire time.

Then she told me I am holding the dog ransom. WHAT??? HELLO IF I DON"T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THE DOG WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO DO? LET IT SUFFER IN PAIN??

Ok, lets be realistic about this.

I explained to the crazy rescue people screaming at me on the other end of the phone that my rescue is VERY small and I try very hard not to ask people for money. I only do it in cases like this where I don't have the money.. and honestly this is not too often. I told her normally I would just float the surgery on my credit card till the rescue could pay me back but do to personal reason that isn't an option.

Then she starts lecturing me about how rescue and my personal money should be separate. OMG really ya think! IDIOT! I tried explaining again that I normal float the money on a credit card until the rescue has the money but this is not an option right now.

I swear everything I said went in one ear and right out the other. You know what lady you run your rescue the way you run your rescue with too many dogs, dogs living in crates and dogs living their life in pain b/c you can't put them down. You deal with the aggressive Saint Bernard that you have to warn people about because he may attack. And I will run my rescue the way I run my rescue.

I don't call you telling you that you should or shouldn't put a dog to sleep, I don't call you and tell you that you should or shouldn't help a dog. So, you know what mind your business and leave me the hell alone.

If you wanted to call me and say "Hey Amy, if you can't raise the money to have the dogs surgery done then let me know. I will take the dog to my vet."

Don't tell me that $2,500 is too much for the surgery b/c it is just a leg amputation. As I explained to you 10 times but you CLEARLY were not listening. It isn't a simple amputation there is a lot more going on.

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh

After I got off the phone with crazy rescue lady. I just started crying. I called a fellow NON crazy rescue person b/c she knows crazy rescue person and vented to her. I just can't take it right now.

I can't tell you the last time I cried but the stress of all this, I have cried like 4 times in the last 2 days. Of course never around anyone.. LOL but twice on the phone with a rescue person so I feel like an idiot.

I am just at my limit and a little support and NO MORE NEGATIVE PEOPLE would be really nice right about now.

8 comments:

Oh sweetie, hang in there. As you so correctly pointed out, we may not all have the same opinions or ways of doing this thing we do, but we are doing SOMETHING! There are so many that say, oh that's sad and walk away or that choose not even to see or hear, let alone do something. The last thing we need to do is attack each other for trying. We also need to mentally turn up the volume when others are thanking us for what we do...and mute the ones who unjustly criticize. If she was giving you a solution to the problem at hand, then fine. But Monday morning quarterbacking...not fine.

I'm so sorry that woman acted like a jerk. You didn't deserve that. You should have told her if she wanted to help she could pay the vet and then just hung up. I'm not sure where you're located but could you reach out to other rescues in the area? Maybe a breed specific one?

Is there another rescue that can step in to help? I'd hate to see the dog put down as well - not criticizing you for taking the dog in - that was a generous thing to do on your part. I just feel this dog deserves a chance. The woman turned her over to rescue probably believing she was saving the dog because she couldn't afford the surgery. I hate to see any dog put down for something we can fix. Maybe another vet will do it for less money or this vet will work with you. I'd contribute money but I want to know the dog will be helped. Please post an update. Thanks for all you do. xo

The women turned the dog over saying it was a JRT. My JRT rescue would have paid for the surgery but the dog is a mix so that leaves my small personal rescue to pay for it. It is partly my fault for not seeing the dog prior to taking it in but still the thought of the women driving around in her car with an injured dog broke my heart.

We did raise enough money so he will have his surgery tomorrow.

Trust me putting the dog to sleep was NOT on my top priority list. He is a nice dog that deserves a chance but being such a small rescue I can only do so much but thank God there are awesome people out there that contributed to his surgery.

Now don't forget I still have to pay for all the pre and post surgery vet bills.

You pat yourself on the back, put your chin up and keep doing what you are doing!!! No one has the right to put you down for what you are doing. I read your blog and cannot believe what a wonderful hardworking loving person you are.Tears arealways a good stress relief!

I've followed your blog for a few months now, you are clearly someone doing an incredible amount to help dogs and seem to get very little recognition or help for it - and in fact seem to get a lot of abuse from the people who's animals you are helping. I don't know if this is feasible for you, but have you considered hiring an (unpaid?)intern/volunteer - like from a local college (animal science students looking for experience?) or high school (community service hours?)- just someone to help out with the coordination between these people and you/sorting through inappropriate referrals / setting up a network of donations or soliciting them for you / basic dog care or shuttling them around. It might be nice to have buffer between the crazies and yourself.

I actually have some wonderful ladies who do all my posting on my website so that is a huge stress re leaver. And from time to time I do have "volunteers" who come and help with the dogs / rescue. I have helped a few kids get their community service hours in for school, girl scouts and even a few for the courts.

And even though people suck :-) I did have a lot of AMAZING people step forward and help Sparky get his surgery. Unfortunately, rescue can be a lonely place b/c the general public just doesn't get it.

Thank you for reading, hopefully you can pass to other the importance of adopting!